Lincoln County members from several sororities and fraternities are going pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. are usually represented by colors ranging from shades of blue to purple to red and black, but in the month of October they have united for the cause of breast cancer awareness and are “Going Pink,” the trademark color associated with the cause, said Janee’ Harrison, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a worldwide annual campaign involving thousands of organizations with various initiatives to highlight the importance of breast cancer awareness, education and research.

To support the campaign, the fraternities and sororities are partnering with each other to host informational events.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Phi Mu Omega Chapter members will be on-hand at Edgewood Mall in McComb Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. to hand out pamphlets and share information with shoppers.

“There will be a lot of details for people about where they can go to get screened, even where they can go and get screened for free,” Harrison said.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Mu Pi Lambda Chapter, will sponsor a Breast Cancer Survivor Reception at the Brookhaven Technical  Center Sunday beginning at 4 p.m. All survivors and their families are invited to attend.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Phi Mu Omega Chapter, will have display boards set up for public information at both the Lincoln County Public Library and the McComb Library through the month.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Gamma Beta Zeta Chapter, along with its youth auxiliary, the Archonettes, passed out pamphlets, ribbons and other information to the community in various locations around the Brookhaven area Oct. 5.

Delta Sigma Theta, Pike County Alumnae Chapter, is involved in various cancer awareness initiatives as well, she said.

“Breast Cancer is a disease that affects both women and men,” Harrison said. “Statistics tell us that about one in eight U.S. women — about 12.4 percent — will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, and a man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000, according to breastcancer.org.”

Harrison said the groups hope individuals will make the call for a checkup or mammogram sometime this month.

“The central message is, please take care of yourselves,” she said. “Please go and see your doctor and get screened. Let’s see if we can’t minimize the effects of these diseases in this country.”